Music Business/Management

As a student majoring in music business/management, you will learn the music industry skills, concepts, and methodologies necessary to manage the legal, financial, artistic, and ethical issues that face the contemporary music business professional. You can select one of three available tracks within the major: self-directed or entrepreneurial activity, music products, or management in corporate environments.

You will demonstrate functional mastery of necessary skills and concepts by completing a final capstone project/experience with portfolio documentation, depending upon the major track chosen. This experience will be an industry internship, leadership participation in an ongoing college model music industry project, or both.

In addition, you'll develop a critical understanding of the criteria of quality work in music business and management environments via your course work, case studies, and exposure to guest lecturers, among other avenues of learning. Through group projects and other class activities, you'll explore how to work effectively with others in groupings typically found in the music business, and you'll develop your ability to nimbly adapt to changes in music business and management environments.

Entrance Requirements

Students self-select to declare the music business/management major following their acceptance to the bachelor of music degree program with demonstration of an overall grade point average (GPA) from their first semester of study of at least 2.0.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of a major in music business/management, students will:

Synthesize the terminology of the music industry;

Apply copyright and intellectual property law as related to the music industry;

The program maintains close ties with the music industry through its sponsorship and/or involvement in annual events, including: An Evening With Entrepreneurs; The Zafris Distinguished Lecture for Music Business/Management; Envisioning 21st Century Music Business Models; Business of Hip Hop/Urban Music Symposium; Music Business/Management Orientation and MEISA Autumn Affair, the Business of Gospel Music, and the Rethink Music conference. These events bring a range of industry practitioners to the college, for interaction with students and faculty. The department is also active in bringing in speakers, lecturers, and clinicians throughout the academic year through the college's Major Residency program and Visiting Artist Series.Faculty are active in attending the important academic and trade events that take place annually, such as the College Music Journal (CMJ), National Association of Music Merchandisers (NAMM), National Association of Recording Merchants (NARM), Billboard Touring Conference, Digital Music Forum East and West, South By Southwest Music & Media Conference, Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale (MIDEM), Lollapalooza/Kidzapalooza, the Grammy Awards, World Copyright Summit, Rethink Music and seminars offered through the Los Angeles Music Network. The department is an active member of MEIEA, the Music & Entertainment Industry Educators' Association, and typically has a strong presence and involvement in the organization's annual conference. We also have an active chapter of MEISA, the Music & Entertainment Industry Students' Association, which plans annual trips to New York and Los Angeles, visiting music companies.

How does this program reflect the mission and vision of the college?

The program prepares students for a range of career opportunities that address the commerce of music and the business practices connecting creators with consumers. Through our curriculum, practica, and access to industry professionals, our vision is to produce tomorrow's leaders in an evolving music industry. The MB/M faculty roster is comprised of experienced educators with diverse professional backgrounds and a commitment to the continual refinement and forward motion of the program.

How does this program link to the college's Diversity Statement?

Diversity is at the core of the Berklee College of Music Vision for 2015, and the Music Business/Management program has played an integral role in helping the college realize its mission on many levels. The MB/M Department has implemented innovative programs for attracting and retaining a diverse, highly qualified faculty and staff. Together, they create an environment that fosters unique learning experiences for students desiring to excel in their preparation for a career in music. The multi-racial, gender, religion, nationality and industry background composition of this group offers a fertile breadth of understanding drawn from multiple disciplines that enhance students' critical thinking and vocational skills. The department attracts a diverse set of students by offering a rich variety of courses and activities/events that support a multicultural environment. These offerings encompass a wide scope of themes, topics, and audiences.

How does this program link with or reinforce the college's Core Competencies?

Through course work, internships, and practica, students develop professional skills needed to participate in the music industry.

Through course work (assignments, projects, presentations, etc.), students demonstrate information literacy using a variety of research tools, including those provided by the department's Resource Center.

Throughout the curriculum, students are required to employ creative, critical, and logical thinking.

Effective communication (orally and in writing) is a focal point in much of the MB/M curriculum, as manifested in assignments, papers, presentations, mock negotiations, leadership roles within practica, etc.

With Business Leadership & Ethics as a required core course, all MB/M students gain a grounding in concepts of ethical decision-making.

The internship and Entrepreneurial Practicum provide bridges to the real world, where students apply skills and knowledge gained from the program.